Chips to charity: Online Casinos working hard to improve community image
What’s your take on gambling? We still haven’t reached a consensus of where it is on the scale of ‘the good, the bad, and the ugly.’ It all depends on how you approach it. As long as you see it as a source of entertainment and are responsible for your money and time, you can expect an enjoyable and exciting experience.
Online casino games can indeed be addictive. However, there are notable efforts in the industry to build and develop mechanisms for responsible gambling. This may come as a surprise, but that’s not the only positive the industry has to offer.
The online casino industry has seen significant growth in the past years, both in the number of operators entering the space and revenue-wise. Such success has allowed gambling sites to position themselves as leaders in the entertainment sector and make a greater impact in the community.
More and more online casinos dedicate part of their profits to charitable organisations, supporting environmental, educational, and healthcare initiatives. The size of these contributions varies between online casinos. It can be a one-time donation or an ongoing commitment where an operator provides continuous financial support.
It’s also common for online casino platforms to include players in charitable campaigns, motivating them to donate part of their winnings to a worthy cause. Fundraising tournaments are also popular in the industry, uniting operators and players around noble goals.
Although a significant factor, money is not the only means online casinos can offer to charitable organisations to fuel positive changes. Some aim for deeper involvement, partnering with organisations and actively participating in their work.
At first glance, charitable organisations and online casinos seem like different worlds, but that should not present an obstacle when there’s a genuine desire to improve the world we all live in.
In addition to financial contributions, online casinos worldwide provide expertise and technical support and even build community-centric initiatives. This can be seen in practice with SkyCity’s sustainability efforts.
As one of the leaders in the online gambling market in New Zealand, SkyCity Casino has dedicated itself to giving back to the community through a sustainability strategy that involves partnering with charitable organisations in the environmental and healthcare sectors. They say, ”The community in which we live and everything surrounding us is our responsibility.”
Another example is Gamblino.com, a company that has established itself as a go-to place for Indian punters in search of high-quality casino apps. The results of the company’s philanthropic work are seen beyond Indian borders, including financial contributions to local schools in Thailand.
Sponsorship is a common and effective way for gambling sites to get involved in community development. By sponsoring schools, art, cultural, or sports events, online casinos help build an environment that cultivates positive values.
In addition to their websites, many online casinos use social media to share information regarding initiatives and campaigns they are involved in, motivating players and followers to join them.
The online space enables the gambling industry to raise awareness regarding social issues and provide suggestions for resolving or improving them. Partnerships are vital in this segment, as well. Gambling platforms have been known to collaborate with influencers to expand their audience base, spread the word, and increase engagement in areas they want to drive change.
A considerable number of online casinos build their culture around CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). Although their goal is to make a profit, the reputable ones pay attention to how their operations (could) impact the broader community.
When it comes to the gambling industry, CSR means promoting responsible gambling and creating a safe gambling environment. It also means prompting and delivering fair gambling conditions and transparency.
Plus, the most community-devoted gambling platforms regularly inform the public about their charitable activities through reports available to all (mainly stakeholders and punters).
Money helps, along with technology, but nothing drives impactful changes like passion and belief. So, it’s all about the people.
Online casinos that understand this build a culture of open communication, encouraging diverse thinking and collaboration, motivating team members to work together toward a shared goal, whether internal or external.
Encouraging employees to engage in the community benefits its members (including employees) and shows that an online casino is an employer worth considering. A paycheck is not the only factor determining whether a candidate will accept a job offer; it is the values the company promotes and what it stands for in a broader social context.
Online casinos’ social responsibility, demonstrated through financial contributions, employee engagement in the community, partnerships with charitable organisations, and awareness campaigns, shows the industry’s genuine interest in driving positive changes. It proves that every contribution matters in building a better world for all of us.